The Consorzio dei Lambruschi Modenesi certifies the bottle number 500,000,000 |
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Brief History of the Consorzio Marchio Storico
dei Lambruschi Modenesi
The delivery of of the numbered red labels to the associated producers started in September 1970. The name then was Consorzio Tutela del Lambrusco-Modena (Consortium [for the] Protection of the Lambrusco Wine-Modena), it started its control activities, following the May 1970 publication of the disciplinari di produzione (production rules), for the three Lambruscos with the DOC appellation: Lambrusco di Sorbara, Lambrusco Salamino di Santa Croce, and Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro. In addition to identifying the bottles produced by the 13 estates currently associated with the consortium, which produces around 85% of the Lambrusco DOC wine in the province of Modena, the red label is a true guaranty of quality. The wine samples picked at the member wineries undergo rigorous tests and organoleptic analyses. Only the wine that matches or tops the quality parameters set by the disciplinare will be allowed the use of the red certification label. In reality, the consortium verified many more Lambrusco DOC wines than the 500 million 750ml bottles mark reached officially at the end of April 2008. In fact, in addition to the traditional, progressively-numbered, red labels applied to the bottle 'shoulder', starting in 1995, the member producers were offered the alternative of adding in the label a serial number, provided by the consortium for each bottle. Then, in 2000, on the occasion of the graphic revision of the label, because of the change of name in Consorzio Marchio Storico dei Lambruschi Modenesi Consortium [for the] Historic Brand of the Lambruscos from Modena), a third choice was offered to the associate: a neck label. Currently the labels bearing the consortium's serial number are over 24 million, to which we add the about 38 million neck labels delivered so far. Finally, taking into consideration the 3.5 million self-sticking traditional red labels, which are numbered separately, the total 750ml. bottles of Lambrusco DOC certified by the consortium is over 565 million of bottles. In addition to 750ml. bottles, the consortium certifies other types of containers as well. In this case the serial numbers on the label are colored green. From 1970 to 1997, the consortium certified over 7 million 200ml. bottles. From 1975 to present, 9 million 375ml. bottles and, lastly, from 1974 to present, 19 million certifications of 1.5 liter bottles. Adding it al up, in turns out that from 1970 to present the consortium certified the equivalent of over 610 million of 750ml. bottles, or over 457 million liters of Lambrusco DOC. In 2006 the consortium acquired control over the Lambrusco di Modena IGT as well. The estate members who wish to have their Lambrusco di Modena IGT certified can apply for it and all allow samples collection to the consortium to comply with the required analyses. Five hundred million is certainly a nice, round number with lots of zeros, no doubt about it.
That is the number of bottles of Lambrusco DOC from Modena which have been certified with the well known small red label applied to the 'shoulder' of the bottle by the Consorzio Marchio Storico dei Lambruschi Modenesi (Consortium [for the] Historic Brand of the Lambruscos from Modena) since it started its activities back in 1970. For 38 years now, the red label, bearing the symbol of the Catherine wheel from the Duomo di Modena (Cathedral of Modena) surrounded by bunches, has been the distinctive element used by the consortium to guarantee that the organoleptic characteristics of the wine in the bottle are those required by the disciplinare (production rules.) Undoubtedly, half a billion certified bottles marked with the characteristic red label represent an important operational achievement, even more important from a socioeconomic and cultural perspective than for just the quantity, which is extremely impressive on its own. The success of the Lambrusco DOC wines from Modena is underscored by the growing production trend, which saw 10 million bottles certified per year in the beginning grew to 24 million bottles certified in 2007. The total production of the Lambrusco DOC varieties currently cultivated in the province of Modena comes from 5,200 hectares (close to 13,000 acres) registered as DOC, and in 2007 was subdivided as follows:
In any case, the achievement of such an important quantity highlights the fact that the Lambrusco system and‚ more generally, the local vitivinicultural system, works. Suffice it to point out that in 2007, Modena itself drank the wine produced with 1,500,000 metric tons of Lambrusco grapes, 36% of which were DOC. In light of the investigations which are wreaking havoc on the consortium of the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano in neighboring Tuscany, the activities of quality protection and control of the consortium to guarantee transparency and trackability of the production cycle is more important today than ever. More Information:
Consorzio Marchio Storico dei Lambruschi Modenesi Via Schedoni 41 - 41100 Modena; t Tel.: 059 235005 • Fax: 059.221832
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